Minnesota Rovers — Activities Archive 2008

Use these pages as a reference for trips you would like to coordinate. The first name of the trip coordinator is listed, but the other contact information has been removed for privacy/security. If you would like more information about a particular trip, just ask around at a meeting and you should be able to find the person. Or send an e-mail and we’ll try to help.

Wednesday, December 31 DAY TRIP
Candlelight Hike. Close out the year with some exercise before heading off to your New Year's Eve party. Join us at Fort Snelling State Park where 2 loops totaling 10K will be lighted. I plan to hike all 10K but a shorter option is available. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Interpretive Center parking lot near the sculpture/ monument made of large pieces of wood. Guests welcome; Rover membership not required for day trips. | Park map |

Directions to Fort Snelling State Park: From Hwy 5 by the airport, take the Post Road exit and enter the park at the stone gate. Follow the main road approx. 2-3 miles. The road will end in the interpretive center parking lot. Admission fee $5/day or $25/year.

Wednesday, December 31 SOCIAL EVENT
New Year Eve Party. Come join us and socialize with other Rovers and cheer in the new year. Bring a food snack item to share with others and a beverage of your choice for yourself. We start at 8:00 p.m., but come at anytime. Call or e-mail for directions.

Sunday, December 28 DAY TRIP
Broomball. Meet at 1:00 p.m. at Lexington & County Road B. Sometimes every other Sunday, sometimes more often! It is highly encouraged to sign up for the broomball e-group to keep up on potentially shifting dates and locations. Brooms provided. Soft soled shoes recommended and protective equipment highly encouraged (helmet, shin pads, knee pads). Lots of fun required!

Saturday – Sunday, December 27 – 28 BEGINNER TRIP
Beginner Winter Camping/Skiing/Snowshoeing. Beginner winter camping at Gooseberry State Park. We will camp in the parking lot by the trail center. The center is enclosed but is not heated, there is a fire place, and it's more comfortable than being outside. At the end of the evening we will go outside to camp. Being near the car, you can bring extra equipment to spend your first winter night out comfortably. There are plenty of ski trails and nice scenery, especially along the river, snowshoeing is an option also. An option is to go up early or late Friday if some campers want to. Estimated cost: $45. Max trip size: no limit.

Saturday, December 20 DAY TRIP
X/C Ski, Snowshoe, and Hike. Let's get out of town for the day to Wild River State Park which is about 50 miles north of the Twin Cities and maintains 30 miles of groomed XC ski trails, 3 miles of snowshoe trails, and 5 miles of winter hiking trail. If there is no snow, we'll hike and check out the "DaVinci Code-" inspired series of geocaches. The trail center is fully enclosed and contains modern restrooms, two fireplaces and a wood stove. The park rents snowshoes and cross-country ski packages for adults and kids. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at REI Roseville for carpooling. Bring a lunch and snacks. Plan to be back at REI about 5:00 p.m. Optional dinner afterward at The Good Earth in Roseville. Cost: Plan to pitch in about $5 for gas and the park entrance fee.

Saturday, December 20 DAY TRIP
Snow Tubing at Badlands Sno-Park. Come join us for a day of Snow-Tubing at 3:00 p.m. at Badlands Sno-Park located just across the border in Hudson Wisconsin. Six fantastic snow hills, tow ropes, inner tubes, and food available. Bring the entire family for this event and prepare for some major fun! Just take highway 94 east into Hudson, WI., then take exit 4 north and following the signs. | More directions | Estimated cost: $15 six years old–Adult, $5 five years and under.

Saturday, December 13 DAY TRIP
Afton Alps Skiing. Come join us for a day of skiing at Afton Alps at 9:00 a.m. We will meet at the bottom of Nancy's Nursery (bunny hill). This is located just in front of the Alps Rental and Ski Patrol Building. Family's are encouraged to attend this event. Estimated cost: $39 Adults, $29 Kids 6-12 yrs old. | Directions |

Saturday – Sunday, December 13 – 14 BEGINNER TRIP
Beginner Winter Camping Weekend. Beginner winter camping at Banning State Park, 100 miles north of the cities. You will be introduced to winter camping by staying in a regular car campground. This will allow you to bring extra gear in the car if you think you will need it, I can help you with gear and clothing choice questions, the cage has equipment if you need it. The Kettle river which passes through the park has an historic quarry and trails. If there is enough snow you can ski, get your ski pass in the cities ahead of time. The cliffs usually have wonderful ice formations on them and there are many water formed pot holes. Estimated cost: $40. Deposit: $10. Max trip size: no maximum.

Sponsoring organization: Northstar Sierra Club

Basil L.

Saturday, December 13 SOCIAL EVENT
Fourth Annual October/November/December Birthdays Party. All are welcome, birthdays are just an excuse to get together (this year, we will toast someone's 60th birthday.) Arrive anytime after 6:00 p.m. Potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share and your beverage of choice. RSVP to Karen to get directions, and let her know your birthdate and what food item you are bringing. Email preferred.

Karen G.

Friday – Sunday, December 12–14
Downhill and XC Skiing at Giant's Ridge (Biwabik, MN). Price includes RT motorcoach transportation, two night lodging at The Lodge at Giant's Ridge (ski in - ski out), two days lift tickets, Saturday evening buffet dinner, and Saturday evening shuttle into Biwabik to hike/party. Space guaranteed through Saturday, November 1; after that, openings on space available basis only. For more details on accommodations available and costs, contact Fred. Estimated cost: Depends on the number of people per condo/suite. Deposit: $150. Max trip size: 50+.

Friday – Sunday, November 28 – 30
Cold Weather Backpacking. Cold weather backpacking in the BWCAW or on the Superior Hiking Trail. We will try to find an area that has little snow on the ground, the intent is to hike and not snowshoe. We will cover about six miles a day. Call for equipment suggestions, meeting location and departure time. Estimated cost: $50. Deposit: $20. Max trip size: 8.

Friday, November 28 DAY TRIP
Hike/Ski and Chili Potluck. This is the day after Thanksgiving. Skip the mall and maintain your holiday sanity with some exercise, socializing, and chili. We'll meet at 3:00 p.m. at Tamarack Nature Center in White Bear Township. If there's snow, we'll ski (classic trails only); otherwise it's a hike (sorry, no dogs allowed at Tamarack). Afterward, everyone is invited to my home in White Bear Lake for more socializing and chili (beef and veggie). I'll also provide hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. Please bring a dish to share and your beverage of choice. Join us for just the hike/ski or for just for the potluck, which will start at about 5:30 p.m. I'll give out directions to my place at Tamarack. If you can't make it to Tamarack, RSVP to get my address. Bring a friend, Rover membership not required for day trips.

Directions to Tamarack Nature Center: From Downtown St. Paul, take I-35E North about 10 miles to Highway 96, go east on Highway 96 about 1 mile to Otter Lake Road, go north. Tamarack is located approximately 2 miles on the left-hand side at 5287 Otter Lake Road.

Friday – Monday, November 21 – 24
Sking & Snowboarding at Lutsen. Lutsen is scheduled to open Nov. 22, which just so happens to be my birthday weekend. Friday night, Nov. 21, Soul Asylum is performing at Grand Casino Hinckley. Spend Friday night at Hinckley and travel to Lutsen early Saturday morning (it's a three-hour drive.) Spend Saturday and Sunday snowboarding/skiing and return home Monday. There is the possibility of going home on Sunday or skipping Hinckley and spending Friday night in Lutsen. Cost will depend on the size of the group. It shouldn't be too expensive, though, as Lutsen is offering a two-for-one package opening weekend (one night's lodging and one lift ticket free with purchase of the same.) Logistics meeting on Saturday, November 15, at The Local at 11:00 a.m. Estimated cost: $100. Deposit: TBD. Max trip size: No Maximum.

Friday – Sunday, November 21 – 23 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo. Want to check out our club? The Outdoor Adventure Expo’s fifty plus exhibitors can help you find your true passion for the outdoors. Check the Special Events page for more information.

We need volunteers to help staff the booth. Please contact Wayne S. to sign up for a 2-hour time slot.

Sunday, November 16 DAY TRIP
Roller Skating / Inline Skating. Join us for a day of Roller Skating / Inline Skating to get in shape for the upcoming, weekly skiing at Buck Hill and Afton Alps. We'll be at Skateville from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is a great fitness workout and it's also fun. Family Friendly. Admission $6, Roller Skate Rental $1 / In-lines $3. Locker $.50. Or Bring your own skates. Skateville: 201 S River Ridge Circle, Burnsville, MN 55337-1610 Phone: 952-890-0988. Directions: Just east of highway 35W and highway 13.

Saturday, November 8 DAY TRIP
Urban Hike and Potluck Dinner. Come exercise and socialize and just have fun on this annual event. The hike will be in start at 4:00 p.m. and the potluck dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. For the potluck dinner bring a food item to share and bring a beverage of your choice. Come join us for the hike and the potluck dinner or just the hike or the potluck dinner. Let me know what food item you would like to bring. For directions and food item details, e-mail or call.

Saturday, November 1 DAY TRIP
Mississippi River Hike/Walk. This is the last day of daylight savings time. This hike is a bookend to the same hike last March on the first day of daylight savings time. Did you realize this is your last chance to experience a Twin Cities sunset after 5 p.m. for the next 78 days and at or after 6 p.m. for the next 120 days? Don't despair, rather let's take advantage of the situation and hike along (and far above) the Mighty Mississippi. Meet outside of Dunn Bros coffee house (next to the Longfellow Grill) on Lake Street and West River Rd. Departure time is 4:30 p.m. We'll cross the Lake Street/Marshall bridge, hike along East River Rd in St. Paul, cross the river on the Ford Parkway Bridge and hike West River Rd back to the starting point. This is an urban hike on paved paths. This loop is about 5 miles and will take approximately two hours, so we'll finish about 6:30 p.m. Optional dinner at the Longfellow Grill after the hike. Bring a friend -- Rover membership not required for day trips.

Friday, October 31 SOCIAL EVENT
Second Annual Halloween Party. 6 pm till whenever. Costumes encouraged. Bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage. We will have a costume contest and possibly a visit from a palm reader/fortune teller. Contact Laura for directions.

Wednesday, October 29 NIGHT HIKE
Hike Lighted Trails at French Regional Park. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the visitor center and hike for an hour or two. We'll be hiking with poles to get in shape for the ski season, but feel free to just use your feet. Bring water. After the hike, socializing nearby for those who are interested.

Directions to Clifton E. French Regional Park: Located on County Road 9 in Plymouth. From I-494, take County Road 9 (Rockford Road) east 1 mile to the park entrance on your right. From Highway 169, take County Road 9 west 2 miles to the park entrance on your left.

Wednesday, October 29 NIGHT HIKE (RECURRING)
Hiking at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. Meet in the Jensen Lake parking lot at 6:00 p.m. This is a 2 1/4 mile hike. We should finish before 7:00 p.m. Family friendly. Bring flashlight, water. We will try and go out for ice cream afterwards. Hikes scheduled for Sept 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.

Directions to Lebanon Hills Regional Park: Take 35E South to Eagan. Exit at Cliff Rd and go East. Turn right on Pilot Knob Rd. The park entrance will be on your left.

Once the snow begins to fall we will be switching to fun in the snow twice a week and rotating between the following locations:

Buck Hill Skiing (Burnsville)
Afton Alps Sking (Afton)
Badlands Snow Park Tubing (Hudson, Wi.)

Thursday – Sunday, October 23–26
Halloween Party and Various Outdoor Fall Activities. The return of a favorite Rover Fall trip in beautiful Whitewater State Park located in SW MN. Whitewater has totally rebuilt the camp (and bridge!) after the devastating August '07 flood. Rovers will descend on the group "camp" beginning Thursday Oct 23 (anytime after 5 p.m.) until Sunday Oct 26 (late afternoon). The "camp" which includes a large main hall/kitchen; modern bathroom/shower building, and 9 heated sleeping cabins will be our base for venturing out on organized hikes and bicycling trips of various lengths. A highlight is a Saturday evening Halloween party complete with costume contest, pumpkin carving, music, and more! Come for all or part of the time. Food Saturday breakfast to Sunday lunch and all lodging fees for 1, 2, or 3 nights is included in the cost. Estimated cost: $40–$50. Deposit: $40. Max trip size: 75.

Saturday, October 18 DAY TRIP
Sandhill Crane Viewing — Crex Meadows, Grantsburg, WI. A repeat of last year's popular trip. Experience the distinct call of a sandhill crane — once heard it will not be forgotten. Join us for a day trip to Crex Meadows, one of the premier wildlife viewing places in Wisconsin, located about 75 miles north of the Twin Cities. As always, Rover membership not required for day trips. Peak numbers of sandhill cranes and snow geese are present this time of the year and fall colors will be near their peak. At 30,000 acres Crex is the largest state owned wildlife area in Wisconsin and is home to 270 species of birds and 600 species of plants. The rare sedge marsh and brush prairie habitats make the area a utopia for wildlife. The extensive road system offers excellent access and great vantage points for wildlife viewing. The trip coordinator has first-hand knowledge of the road system and the best wildlife viewing areas. There will also be an option to hike along the St. Croix river for a few miles during the middle of the day at Governor Knowles State Forest . Bring snacks, a bag lunch, binoculars, hiking boots, and water. There will be several opportunities to resupply with water during the day. We'll stop for dinner on the way back. Meet at REI Roseville for carpooling at 5:45 a.m., returning 8:00 p.m. Estimated cost: $10–$15 for gas plus dinner. Max trip size: 12–15.

Saturday, October 18 DAY TRIP
5-mile Run/Walk at an Apple Orchard. Run for the Apples at Pine Tree Apple Orchard starting at 9 a.m. It's a 5-mile race/walk over a variety of surfaces, gravel to pavement through the orchard, strawberry fields, and pumpkin patch. For the $20 entry fee, each participant gets a long sleeve T-shirt and apple treats following the race including cider and donuts. Parking is limited at the site and carpooling is recommended. Those interested in carpooling should meet at the Rover summer meeting site (the picnic area in Como park just West of Lexington & Horton) at 8 a.m. the day of the event. Note: Advance registrations need to be post-marked by 10/10 for the $20 rate. Estimated cost: $20 advance/$28 day of. Max trip size: 15.

Saturday, October 18 SEMIANNUAL EVENT
Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup. Bring your work gloves and lend a hand for just a few hours cleaning up Rovers’s designated road. Meet at 10am at County Road 202 (corner of 109th Lane N. and Zachary Lane) in Maple Grove. Pizza lunch afterward for all volunteers. For more details, check out the Special Events page.

Thursday, October 16 DAY TRIP
Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser. A walk-a-thon to raise money for The Annual Mastocytosis Meeting. As the walk-a-thon coordinator, I am in need of volunteers and walkers. The walk is as simple as 2 miles around Southdale Mall, inside. You do not need to raise any max amount of money to walk. If you raise $5, you can come and walk (and get a t-shirt)! Although, if you can raise more than $5, that would be cool. Volunteering is as simple as 2–3 hours of your time, helping guide people and handing out water. The walk was originally scheduled as a short walk, indoors. This is because people with Mastocytosis can not exercise or walk very far as heat, exercise, etc. can activate Mastocytosis reactions. Your support to raise awareness, educate doctors, and find a cure for Mastocytosis is greatly appreciated! And walk for those who have difficulty walking! Please see the walk-a-thon web site for all you need to know — register to walk, volunteer, info, and how to make a pledge. Meet at 6:00 p.m. inside the Southdale Shopping Center (Mall) 10 Southdale Center Edina, MN 55435 — Center Court adjacent to water fountain. Estimated cost: $0 - Just raise Pledges!.

Saturday, October 11 DAY TRIP
Guided Natural History Walk at Wood-Rill SNA. Meet at the IWL Breckenridge Chapter house at 1:00 p.m. for car pooling. We will leave at 1:15 p.m. and meet at the Wood-Rill SNA about 2:00 p.m. for a guided natural history walk with Dr. Lee Frelich of the University of Minnesota's Hardwoods Ecology Center. We will see 150 acres of old growth Big Woods that has never been logged, sugar maple trees up to 350 years old, the state champion green ash tree, and walk on a boardwalk through a black ash swamp. In addition, we will see Bufflehead pond surrounded with red maple trees that reflect in the water (bring your camera!), a tamarack bog with sedimentary records of the forest extending back thousands of years, trees damaged by tornados in 1967, and glacial kames (conical hills formed by debris falling through a vertical chute in the glacier). This site is used by UM researchers and students and includes deer exclosures, earthworm exclosures, and slug exclosures. The hike is about 2.5 miles and there are some hills. If there have been recent rains, a couple spots on the trail could be muddy. We will be back to the Breckenridge chapter house about 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Breckenridge Chapter house is located at 8816 West River Road, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444. Members of the general public are welcome to attend. Estimated cost: free.

Friday – Sunday, October 10 – 12 SIGN UP NOW, ONLY ONE SPOT LEFT!
Backpacking Trip. We will be doing a 2-day backpacking trip on the Ice Age Trail near Medford, WI. We will leave Friday evening around 5:00 p.m., and car camp in the Mondeaux Dam area. Saturday and Sunday we will hike about 8 miles per day (16+ total) on the Ice Age Trail and Chippewa Lobe loop, and return to the Twin Cities Sunday evening. Estimated cost: $20 + Food on your own. Deposit: $20. Max trip size: 6.

Friday – Sunday, October 10 – 12
Bike and Camp. Nugget Lake County Park is a gem on the rim of Wisconsin's driftless area, just an hour's drive away. We'll camp here and bike loops of up to 60 miles on scenic back roads to historic waysides, UFO sites, Lake Pepin, and a 50 mph hill! We'll provide meals, but may eat out for lunch; BYOBev. Drive east on I-94 to exit 3 past Hudson. Take Hwy 35 around River Falls & Hwy 65 on to Ellsworth. Turn left on Hwy 10, go 1 1/2 miles and continue straight on Hwy 72 (east) for 10 miles, then right on CC 2 miles and left on HH and follow signs to Nugget Lake County Park. Campsites #37 & 38. $5 daily entrance permit. Estimated cost: $33. Deposit: $3. Max trip size: 13. | more details |

Thursday – Sunday, October 9 – 12
Trail Maintenance. We welcome you to join us on the 2008 edition of the annual end of the season Border Route Trail maintenance trip to Heston's Lodge on beautiful Gunflint Lake just outside of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We welcome both beginners and experienced trail hands to help with the annual fall brushing and deadfall removal on these upper Gunflint trails built by Rover crews in the late seventies and early eighties. As these trails are outside of the BWCAW, it'll be a mechanized trip using chain saws (USFS certification necessary) and power brush cutters (OJT training provided). For those wishing to keep their distance from the power equipment, there'll be plenty of opportunities such as flagging, throwing the brush & cut up deadfall pieces off the trail, helping with proposed re-route layout, etc. We guarantee that you'll return home with a sense of having given something back in exchange for all of the times that you've enjoyed well maintained trails. How's that for warm fuzzies?

We'll be staying in modern cabins provided by Barb & Greg, the owners of Heston's Lodge. This trip will be leaving the Twin Cities at 6:20 p.m. on Thursday, returning ~9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Trip cost includes transportation, lodging, and all food except Thursday and Sunday night stops in Duluth. Deposits in the amount of $70 are required to reserve your spot on this popular event. Full refunds will be made if cancellation notice is received either via email or via telephone conversation on or before October 7. Refunds after that date will be dependant upon the costs incurred at the time of cancellation.

Saturday – Sunday, October 4 – 5 SEMIANNUAL EVENT
Fall Extravaganza. Save the date for this year’s Fall Extravaganza at Jay Cooke State Park. Deadline to sign up: Thursday, September 25. See the Special Events page for more details, agenda, and contact information.

Friday – Saturday, October 3 – 4
Pre-Extravaganza Camping at Jay Cooke. If you want to get an early start to Extravaganza weekend (see below), please join us for group camping on Friday night at Jay Cooke State Park. We have reserved one of the two group sites that we will use on Saturday. No food is provided, but I will bring a stove. Membership not required since it is part of the Extravaganza. Estimated cost: $5. Deposit: $5. Max trip size: 16.

Thursday, October 2
Winter Slide Show and Discount Day. Join us at Midwest Mountaineering where we will present a winter slide show and answer questions about the club. For those who are already members, this is also discount day! See the Special Events page for more information.

Saturday – Sunday, September 27 – 28
Biking Red Cedar Bike Trail and Chippewa River Trail from Menomonie to Eau Claire. This will be approximately 50 miles each day, starting Saturday Sept 27, at 10:00 a.m. in Menomonie. We will bicycle to Eau Claire to tent overnight in the backyard of my childhood home with a beautiful setting next to Putnam Park. There is an eagle's nest in plain view from the backyard. This is not a roughing-it trip. There will be a toilet available in the lower level of the house plus water. We will shuttle the tents and sleeping bags, etc. to Eau Claire so that we can bike without any load. There is a great ice cream place in Downsville. Also there is the Creamery for lunch. For dinner in Eau Claire we will have pizza in the backyard or bring your camping stove if you'd like, and maybe take in a cheap movie downtown, 1 mile away that evening. The next morning we'll bike back to Menomonie. You can check out the trail info at the link below. Estimated cost: $30. Deposit: $30. Max trip size: 12. | trail info |

Saturday, September 27 DAY TRIP / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Prairie Restoration at Wild River State Park. Take part in hands on learning about prairie restoration. Wild River Park Naturalist Dave Crawford will offer a program at 1 p.m. on how the park is working (with the help of hundreds of visitors) to restore native prairie on retired farmland in the park. The program takes place at the park's visitor center. Following the program, visitors are welcome to put in an hour or two walking in the restored prairies in the park and collecting seed. This is an incredible way to enjoy and experience the prairies! School groups, scouts, and other service groups will sow all seed collected in the park the following spring. Every bit of seed that's collected provides a small but important step towards rebuilding one of the least common plant and animal communities of eastern Minnesota. This is a family friendly event. Option of hiking through the park and picnic following the restoration work. RSVP to coordinate carpooling and/or picnic. Estimated cost: free.

Saturday, September 27 DAY TRIP / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Buckthorn Removal at Henry Park. Come out and help with the continued unfolding of a new St. Paul park. Meet at Henry Park, a couple miles south of the Dayton bluffs. We will help haul buckthorn, an invasive plant, together with people from the Friends of Henry Park organization. The buckthorn will already be cut down for us. Despite the name, the few thorns are long and soft; the only protective gear needed is work gloves and safety glasses or sunglasses. The club will provide these if you don't have them. Enjoy fall colors in a beautiful setting, made that way with our help. Work from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Call or e-mail for help connecting with others for carpooling. Socializing afterward optional. Estimated cost: free.

Friday – Sunday, September 26 – 28
Trail Maintenance. Join us on a fall color mechanized trail maintenance trip to the Pigeon River Section of the Border Route Trail. This will give you a great chance to visit the Border Route Trail, one of the highest rated trails in the Midwest, and feel good about contributing to its upkeep at the same time. You'll enjoy some of the best scenery in the Midwest, gourmet food by our renowned foody, Trish Hannah, unbeatable camaraderie, plus some great fall colors. This section of the BRT lends itself well to beginners with a total of five access points, lots of great overlooks, and very little damage from the "Big Blow" of July 4th, 1999.

The trip will have a combination of day hiking and trail reconnaissance combined with deadfall & brushing sweeps. Last fall and earlier this summer we did deadfall and brushing sweeps of the eastern end of this section. We're hoping that this trip combined with a May trip next spring will get maintenance on the Pigeon River section back on a sustainable schedule. In order to maximize transportation efficiency, we'll use my Dodge Maxi-Van plus the newly acquired "Little Guy" tear-drop trailer for any gear that won't fit in the van. We'll car-camp at either the Otter Lake trailhead or the McFarland Lake campground.

This trip will be leaving the Twin Cities at 6:20 p.m. on Friday, returning ~9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Trip cost includes transportation and all food except for stops on the way up and back. Lower costs would apply for those providing their own transportation and meeting us at the camp site. A deposit of $65 made out to BRTA secures your spot on this great trip.

Thursday – Sunday, September 18 – 21
Trail Clearing on the Border Route Trail. Join us for fall trail clearing on the Border Route Trail. The bugs should be getting a bit better after the long summer buzz. We will be leaving Thursday night (9/18) after work. Driving up to McFarland Lake (eating dinner on the way) and camping at the McFarland campground. Friday we will canoe about 7 miles to the Pine / Pike portage campsite, set up camp, have lunch, hike up to the trail and start clearing to the west. Saturday we will continue clearing the trail to the west and spend some time at the overlooks before coming back down to camp. Sunday we will have an easy morning, canoe back to McFarland Lake, drive home (eating lunch on the way), expecting to get home mid evening. Sign up using the online registration form. Estimated cost: $65. Deposit: $65. Max trip size: 9.

Tuesday, September 16 SEMIANNUAL EVENT
Rovers Intro Show. Find out more about Rovers and/or see what we’ve been up to lately at the Intro Show at 7pm at REI in Bloomington. Visit the Special Events page for more information.

Friday – Sunday, September 12 – 14
Sailing. We will drive up Friday night to Bayfield WI, and board the boat. It's a 4-hour drive from the cities. Checked out 8:00 a.m. Saturday, sail out to islands, anchor overnight, some hiking, etc weather permitting. Return boat to slip 3:00 p.m. Sunday. The Apostles are a beautiful group of islands, and when accessed by sailing is quite adventuresome. The weather can vary from calm and warm, to cold and rainy--no guarentees, and you need to dress for anything. This will not be first come, first serve — I want a few members of the crew to have sailing experience of some sort; preferably at least one who is used to bareboat chartering. Estimated cost: $125–$150, plus food. Deposit: $100. Max trip size: 5–6.

Wednesday, September 10 EDUCIATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
CPR class. I will be taking a Red Cross "CPR - Adult" class on at 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The cost is $55 I am taking the NOLS WMI first aid class and want to have my CPR certificate before that. I am taking class number HSSFA102-1506443 (top right on the webpage). Estimated cost: $55.

Sunday, September 7 DAY TRIP
Hiking at Afton State Park. Aabout 8 miles round trip. Hoping to enjoy the beautiful st Croix, late prairie flowers some birds and the quiet woods. Meet by 8:30 a.m. at the parking lot. The is the lot that is at the trail head for the backpack area. Bring water and snacks. We will leave *promptly* on the hike. I'd like this to be a leisurely hike to enjoy the sky and woods. Possibility for ice cream in town of Afton after hike. RSVP Elisha via e-mail or cell. I'll be camping in Afton the night before, so will be unreachable after 3 p.m. Saturday.

Friday – Sunday, September 5 – 7 SORRY, THIS TRIP IS FULL
Horseback Riding and Hiking. Sisseton, South Dakota. Leave Friday morning — possibly a Friday afternoon option (stop for a geocache?) and short hike on the way out (5 hr drive).

Stay in camper cabins at Fort Sisseton State Park. Friday night we hope to visit a local fish fry. Bring your own lunches and snacks. Trip cost includes Saturday and Sunday breakfast and Saturday supper, lodging, transportation, park admission and riding.

Saturday: Guided tour of Fort Sisseton in the morning. Hiking at Sica Hollow in the afternoon. Possibly a bit more geocaching.

Sunday — the highlight: Horseback riding at Canyon Ranch! CONFIDENT RIDERS ONLY, please. We plan on doing some cantering! I already have 12 riders for Sunday morning, but there may be some room left for Sunday afternoon riders, with a late return to the Twin Cities (9 p.m.)

Who knew that eastern South Dakota was so beautiful? Come fulfill those cowboy/girl dreams. Estimated cost: $120. Deposit: $50. Max trip size: 12-15.

Thursday – Friday/Saturday, September 4 – 5/6
Viewing Whooping Cranes. The purpose of this trip is to view juvenile whooping cranes (some adults are also in the area), a federal listed endangered species, at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin. Each summer, for the past seven years, hatchling whooping cranes have been transported to the Refuge in order to establish an eastern population of migratory cranes. During the summer, they are raised and then trained to fly with ultra light planes. When ready, they follow the planes to their wintering area in Florida. They fly back north on their own during the spring migration. Our trip also includes a special tour of the Refuge including restricted areas. After lunch at the Little Crane restaurant, we go to Baraboo, Wisconsin for a self guided tour of the International Crane Foundation.

Details: Leave on Thursday Afternoon to camp at the Wilderness Campground on Lake Petenwell, north of Necedah, Wisconsin. Rise before dawn on Friday and taken to a viewing site to see the whooping cranes and then tour the Refuge. Have lunch at Crane Cafe in Necedah at noon. Travel to Baraboo to visit the International Crane Foundation. Costs: $13 per tent, which includes a car, for one night (sharing tents reduces cost per person) $8.50 per adult for admission to the Foundation.

Meals are on your own (estimated cost includes anticipated individual costs each person will pay on their own). I will bring a small grill for those who wish to stay a second night of camping and cookout. Cost of gasoline will be shared with individuals in carpools (included in estimated cost with car pooling of two or three people per vehicle). Estimated cost: $100. Deposit: $21.50. Max trip size: 14.

Wednesday, September 3 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking at Battle Creek Regional Park in St. Paul. Meet at 7:00 p.m. in the parking lot at Battle Creek Community Recreation Center located at 75 Winthrop Street South in St. Paul. We'll hike until approximately 8:30. This section of the park is hilly and unpaved.

Directions to Battle Creek Recreation Center: Take I-94 east past downtown St. Paul; exit at McKnight Road and go south about 1/2 mile to 4-way stop on Upper Afton Road. Turn right on Upper Afton. Go about to 2 blocks to 4-way stop at Winthrop and turn left. Look for the parking lot on the right about 1 block down the street. | map |

Tuesday, September 2 DAY TRIP
Beginner Mountain Biking — Part 1 (again). Mountain biking doesn't always mean hopping logs and avoiding collisions with trees. Join us for a great aerobic workout riding non-technical turf trails. Meet at Oak Grove Park in Brooklyn Park at 6:00pm. From there we will bike to Elm Creek Park Reserve and explore the trails. HELMETS REQUIRED!

September (1 week)
Whitewater Rafting in Grand Canyon. Exciting whitewater rafting trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon! The outfitter is Arizona River Runners. This is a motorized raft with room for 30 people, includes food and camping gear. The trip starts in Las Vegas with a short (optional) flight to Lee's Ferry on August 31, 2008 and ends at Whitmore and a bus ride back to Las Vegas. Not for the faint-hearted! This 7-day trip includes more hiking opportunities than the other trips offered by this company. Costs: $2,275 to outfitter; optional flight from Las Vegas to Lee's Ferry is $212 and the state park pass is $12. The total is $2,502 plus airfare from Minneapolis to Las Vegas and optional nights and meals in Las Vegas before and after rafting trip. Deposit: $400 paid directly to outfitter. Max trip size: 28.

August (2 weeks)
Canoe / Kayak / Camping — Katmai National Park, Alaska. Canoeing and kayaking in Katmai National Park is traveling back to the time when bears, wolves, eagles, and salmon were abundant, and humans were few and far between. We will see distant glaciers and volcanoes while we paddle. Drop off is by bush plane on Grosvenor Lake and then paddle our way back to civilization at Brooks camp via the Grosvenor River, Savonoski River, and the Illiuk Arm of Naknek Lake. Once at Brooks Camp we will have access to restaurant food and showers. The remainder of our time we will day hike the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, to the top of Dumpling Mountain and watch salmon leap into the mouths of Alaskan brown bears at Brooks Falls. The Savonoski is a Class II river. No large waves, but the river flows fairly quickly and there are tree snags in the river and islands to paddle around. We will paddle folding canoes and kayaks. On days with wind we will stay in camp to avoid white caps. We will paddle about 55 miles over the course of 6-8 days (weather dependant).

Difficulty level: Medium. (No Portages).
Must have good experience wilderness camping.
Must have good experience canoeing or kayaking.

Estimated cost: $1,400 - $1,800. Deposit: $200. Max Trip size 7-8: We will use two bush planes if more than 4 people sign up.

Thursday – Monday, August 28 – September 1 LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Border Route Trail Maintenance/Intro to the Border Route Trail. This trip to the Pigeon River Section of the Border Route Trail is a great chance to visit the Border Route Trail, one of the highest rated trails in the Midwest. You'll enjoy excellent scenery, gourmet food by our renowned foody, Trish Hannah, unbeatable camaraderie, plus great swimming at our campsite.

This section of the BRT lends itself well to day hiking as it has a total of five access points, lots of great overlooks, and very little damage from the “Big Blow” of 7/4/1999. As many of you already know, the BRT was built by Rovers during the 1970’s. It’s a significant part of Rover’s heritage to which we’d like to introduce newer members, hence this will be a combination day hiking, trail reconnaissance, deadfall clearing & brushing sweep. We did a deadfall sweep of major portions of this section last fall and earlier this summer so we don't expect many deadfalls. That means that the group should move along almost as fast as a normal day hike group would travel on their own. This will be a great chance to see a major piece of the BRT and feel good about contributing to its upkeep at the same time.

Leaving Thursday after work and return Monday evening ~9:30 p.m. In order to maximize transportation efficiency, we’ll use my 12-passenger Dodge Maxi-Van and BRTA trailer for carrying extra gear. We’ll car-camp at the Otter Lake trailhead with its “executive beach” and newly installed BWCAW style latrine. Trip cost includes transportation and all food except for stops on the way up and back. Estimated cost: $70. Deposit: $70. Max trip size: 12.

Since the trip involves trail maintenance and is organized as a joint effort of the Border Route Trail Association and Minnesota Rovers, the trip costs are tax deductible.

Wednesday, August 27 NIGHT HIKE
Hike Central Park. Mostly paved paths but some dirt. There is a small nature center along the way. Meet at 7:00 p.m. in parking lot off Lexington Ave in Roseville, 1 block south of County Rd C. We'll hike until 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, August 20 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking at Tamarack Nature Center. Meet at 7:00 p.m. in the parking lot off of Otter Lake Road in White Bear Township. The planned route includes hiking around several lakes. We will hike until around 8:30. Bring water and insect repellent. We hike rain or shine, so bring your rain gear. We will try and go out for ice cream afterwards. Pets are NOT permitted in the Tamarack Nature Center Park.

Directions to Tamarack Nature Center: From Downtown St. Paul, take I-35E North to Highway 96, go east on Highway 96 to Otter Lake Road, go north. Tamarack is located approximately 2½ miles on the left-hand side at 5287 Otter Lake Road.

Wednesday, August 20 NIGHT HIKE (RECURRING)
Hiking at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. Meet in the Jensen Lake parking lot at 7:00 p.m. This is a 2 1/4 mile hike. We should finish before 8:30 p.m. Family friendly. Bring bug spray and water. We will try and go out for ice cream afterwards. Hikes scheduled for July 23, 30, August 6, 13, and 20.

Directions to Lebanon Hills Regional Park: Take 35E South to Eagan. Exit at Cliff Rd and go East. Turn right on Pilot Knob Rd. The park entrance will be on your left.

Saturday

Wednesday, August 16 – 27
Hiking in the Cascades. We will be travelling via Amtrak train from the Twin Cities to North Central Washington State into the Cascades. We will be going to Holden Village a retreat center in the Cascade Mountain Range. There are a multitude of different hikes for the beginner as well as expert hiker. There are opportunities to camp, fish for cutthroat trout, see wildlife, and learn crafts. They have tennis courts, a bowling alley, and an ice cream parlor too.

If the scheduled time is too long of a block for you, a shorter trip is possible via airline. A bus or rental car can be taken from Seattle or Spokane to Wenatchee or Chelan. An overnight stay must occur however in Wenatchee or Chelan and then depart via ferry from Chelan at 8:30 a.m. to Holden.

The estimated train cost is $506 roundtrip. The stay at Holden approximately $375 which includes meals. Items for camping are available at Holden but may desire to bring own camping gear also. They do have laundry facilities. Estimated cost: $900+meals on the train. Deposit: N/A . Max trip size: N/A.

Saturday, August 16 SOCIAL EVENT
Second Annual Volleyball-Pool Party. The party (volleyball, pool, beverages and snacks) starts at 5 p.m. Bring yourself, your friends, water weapons, your favorite dish to pass, and a swim suit. Includes, for $7 advance or $10 after August 11, food (brats, sloppy joes, teriyaki chicken, and vegin sloppy joes), three kinds of beer, wine, pop, water, volleyball, recreational water, bocce ball and other yard games. Where? At Fred Foxs' Den, in Oakdale. E-mail or call for directions. Estimated cost: $7 until August 12, $10 afterward. Deposit: Full Amount. Max trip size: Unlimited.

Saturday, August 16 DAY TRIP
Biking and BBQ Potluck. We'll bike about 25 miles, mostly on the Gateway Trail, a few miles on suburban streets. This will be an easy-to-moderately paced ride, partly a loop, partly an out-and-back. We'll stop for a break along the way. Plan on the ride taking about 2 hours. Meet at my house in White Bear Lake at 4:00 p.m. Upon returning, we'll fire up the grill at about 7:00 p.m. Join us for just the ride or just the BBQ. Bring a lawn chair, your beverage of choice, a dish to share, and whatever you want to grill. RSVP (e-mail preferred) to get directions and let me know what you are bringing. Bring a friend - Rover membership not required for day trips.

Friday

Monday, August 15 – September 15
Hiking the John Muir Trail. The John Muir Trail is about 230 miles through Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and ends after climbing Mt. Whitney. If someone wants to come less time than the entire trip, that would be fine. There are sections of 1 - 2 weeks that allow for access back to a car. Estimated cost: $500. Deposit: $0. Max trip size: Open.

Wednesday, August 13 NIGHT HIKE
Hike along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. Meet at Crosby Farm Park in St. Paul for a hike along the Mississippi River at 7 p.m. We will hike about 1 1/2 hours, and can go out for ice cream afterwards if people want. Trainers or light hiking boots are adequate. We will meet by the fire pit in the picnic area. Water and bug spray are advisable. Crosby Farm Park is located off Shephard Road.

Saturday, August 9 DAY TRIP
Tenth Annual Summer in the Sticks. Join us at Elm Creek Park Reserve for biking, hiking, inline skating, swimming, picnic, etc. If you’re willing to make the trek all the way to the NW ’burbs to this terrific park in Maple Grove, meet at the recreation area near the beach and we’ll start there. Meet at 9:00 a.m. for a road bike ride (40–50 miles, TBD), or inline skating, or later for other activities (see agenda below). People willing to coordinate other activities would be appreciated*, otherwise just show up and decide amongst yourselves when you get there. | directions |

If you can’t make it during the day, join us later (~5pm), for a pot-luck BBQ. Bring something to grill and something to share. There are grills at the park, but feel free to bring charcoal and your own grill.

Elm Creek Park Reserve has 20 miles of paved trails that also connect to Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park via the North Hennepin Trail Corridor (7 miles) or Fish Lake Regional Park on the TRPD Regional Trail. These trails are all in excellent condition for biking and inline skating. There are also over 30 miles of turf hiking trails and 5 miles of mountain biking trails. Pets are allowed on designated trails only (5.4 miles). Don’t forget swimwear! There’s a man-made, chlorinated, and filtered swimming pond ($1 fee) with sand beach at the area we’ll be picnicking. Bring lunch/snacks, water, sunscreen, and maybe some bug dope if hiking.

All activities will meet near the Rovers banner on the hill overlooking the beach at the recreation area.

Friday – Sunday, August 8 – 10
Canoe Overnight on Chippewa River. 24 mile canoe trip on Chippewa River from Caryville, WI to Durand, WI. Launch at Caryville, 12 noon on Friday the 8th, pullout on Sunday the 10th around 2–4 p.m. We will be canoeing downstream along a scenic undeveloped river system with oak savannah, prairie, and forest. For birding it is biologically rich with water birds and forest birds. No white water skills needed. Sand bars for cooking out and swimming. Bring your own food/water/toilet paper, etc. Canoes, paddles and life jackets are provided and brought to our departure point by a canoe service. We will carpool ourselves back and forth from the launch point and pull out point. We will have a naturalist along from the WI DNR, John Schwarzmann. He is a forester and knowledgeable about fauna and flora. Remember to bring your Rovers card. Cost is $68/person. Estimated cost: $68. Deposit: $34. Max trip size: 8.

Friday

Sunday, August 8 – 17
Climb 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado. Join two of us in ascending (weather permitting) five 14,000 ft peaks primarily in the Sawatch and Elk Range of Colorado. Fly in to Denver, acclimate the second day, and begin doing approximately one peak a day. Four of the peaks will be class two. Mid-week, we will attempt the three day ascent and return of Capitol Peak which is class 4. We plan to use rope and protection to traverse this knife ridge. Qualified participants will have successful high altitude experience (above 11,000 feet), alpine mountaineering experience (lead belay, traditional lead climb, rope management skills), and backpacking experience. May consider one person with solid seconding and lead belay experience. This trip is considered strenuous or a 5 on a scale on 1-5. Participants must be experienced backpackers and climbers. Estimated cost: $1,100 for 4 people, car rental, food, camping, plane ticket, gas included. Deposit: car rental amount. Max trip size: 4.

Saturday, August 2 DAY TRIP
5K Run/walk. Canadian Days 5K Run/Walk at Pioneer Park, Little Canada, MN. Cost includes, T-shirt, water bottle and free pancake breakfast following the race. The ThunderBay bagpippers perform during breakfast. Get details, register online or download entry formand mail at www.canadiandays.org. The race starts at Pionner Park which is at 2950 Centerville Rd, however the race start and parking is on the East side of the park off of Desota Ave (see map) Estimated cost: $15 advance/$18 race day. Max trip size: 175 (for guaranteed T-shirt).

Thursday, July 31 DAY TRIP
Skate around the Lakes. Meet at the Lake Harriet Bandshell at 7:00 p.m. and we'll skate from there. Please call/email if interested so I can keep a look out for you or in case of cancelation.

Wednesdays beginning July 30 RECURRING EVENT
Horse Riding Lessons. Group horse riding lessons in Hugo at 6:45 p.m. Wood Loch Stables offers group riding lessons on Wednesday for all skill levels. You should arrive at 6:45 to take care of the paper work, cash or check, and to saddle up the horse. There are several teaching assistance around to help you with this. The lesson starts at 7:00 p.m. and lasts 1 hr. The lessons are in an indoor rink so weather is not an issue. You should ware pants – not shorts, and healed boots. Tennis shoes are acceptable but not advised. The costs of the lessons are $25 if you sign up for four, $30 when signing up for a single class. You should call in advance to reserve a horse. The phone number and directions are as follows. Wood Loch Stables 651-29-1303.

When coming from St. Paul go north on 35E Take the Hugo exit #123 this will be County Rd 14 Turn right County Rd 14 tees with Hwy 61 Go north on hwy 61 Take Hwy 61 through Hugo Turn left on 170th Wood Loch Stables will be on the right Drive to the last barn The tack room will be the first right once inside the barn All the paper work will be taken care of in the tack room.

I will be in class starting 7/30 and will be there for the next 3 consecutive weeks. Estimated cost: $25-$30. Max trip size: 8.

Wednesday, July 30 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking along Minnehaha Parkway in south Minneapolis to Lake Harriet. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at Liberty Frozen Custard on Nicollet Avenue at 54th Street, a block west of I-35W and the Diamond Lake exit. Round-trip hike is about 3 1/2 miles.

Friday

Sunday, July 25 – Aug 3
Quetico Canoing. We will drive up to Atikokan on Friday and either camp or spend the night in a hotel. Put in at Nym Lake Entry on Saturday … the tentative route will take us on a loop through Sturgeon. We have two lay-over days planned for rest or fishing. There will be a new moon on this trip so we are hoping for some gorgeous starry nights. We will return late Sunday evening. A passport is not required for entry this year. Deposit: $100. Max trip size: 4.

Friday July 25 – Sunday July 27
Biking/Hiking. Plan to leave on Friday and spend the weekend hiking or biking in Bayfield, WI. Bayfield is a quaint little town on the south shore of Lake Superior. We will be staying in the house that Rovers use in the winter. There are many things to do in the area. Hiking, biking, sea kayaking, sailing etc. I plan to hike into Bayfield in the morning and visit the Farmer's Market and the art fair. Then it's off to Madeline Island to bike. However do to the many things to do in the area the itinerary is open. We will return to the house in the evening and have dinner. Estimated cost: $80 plus gas. Deposit: $40. Max trip size: 6-8.

Thursday – Sunday, July 24 – 27
Biking, Hiking, and Camping. Staying at Blue Mound State Park in Wisconsin, near Madison (~4.5 hour drive from the Twin Cities). Activities may include biking (road, trail, or mountain), hiking, bird watching, or just relaxing and taking in the views. The park is the tallest hill in southern Wisconsin, and offers beautiful vistas of the surrounding areas.

Biking options:
Easy: The Military Ridge Trail (flat, rail-to-trail)
Moderate: 6-mile, challenging off-road trail
Challenging: Join us riding the course of the Horribly Hilly Hundred 100k bike race (which occurs in June), involving 5,700 feet of elevation gain in 67.1 miles.

We'll be camping in the park campground three nights. Showers are available, because after the 100k ride, you'll need 'em. Estimated cost: $50. Deposit: $20. Max trip size: 12.

Thursday, July 24 DAY TRIP
Skate the Minnehaha Pkwy. Skate the scenic Minnehaha Trail. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the big bunny statue on the corner of Minnehaha Pkwy. and Portland Ave. Please call/email if interested so I can keep a look out for you or in case of cancelation.

Wednesday, July 23 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking at Tamarack Nature Center. Located in White Bear Township. Meet in the parking lot off of Otter Lake Road at 7:00 p.m. We hike rain or shine, until about 8:30. Bring water, insect repellent and rain gear. Sorry, no pets allowed at Tamarack.

Thursday, July 17 DAY TRIP
Inline Skating at Lake Harriet. Meet at the Lake Harriet Bandshell at 7:00 p.m. Please call/email if interested so I can keep a look out for you or in case of cancelation.

Wednesday, July 16 – 20
Boundary Waters Paddling. Leave Wednesday afternoon. Camp or motel Wednesday night. Enter at Fall Lake on Thursday morning. Paddle north through Pipestone Bay to Basswood Lake. Return Sunday. Back to Minneapolis by Sunday night. Estimated cost: Uncertain. Deposit: None. Max trip size: 7.

Wednesday, July 16 NIGHT HIKE
Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge — Long Meadow Visitors Center Hike. Meet at 7:00 p.m. in the visitor center parking lot of the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge. We will hike the spur trail towards Cedar Ave. We will hike until around 8:30. We hike rain or shine, so bring your rain gear. Bring bug spray and water also. We will try and go out for ice cream afterwards.

Directions to the Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center: located at 3815 American Blvd. East in Bloomington, across from the Airport Hilton Hotel. From I-494, exit on 34th Ave. and drive south. Turn left on American Blvd. East and drive 1/4 mile to the entrance. | map to starting point |

Sunday, July 13 DAY TRIP
Bike and Boogie from Tuggs Tavern. Meet at Tuggs Tavern (219 SE Main St., Mpls - St. Anthony Main) at 3:15 pm. We will bike across the Stone Arch Bridge and south along the Mississippi to the 10th Avenue bridge (to check out I-35 W construction) and then south to Lake St. bridge and then back to Tuggs for food, outdoor good music and socializing from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. or so.

Saturday, July 12 DAY TRIP
St. Croix River Leisurely Paddle/Float/Swim. This will be a full day, casual and relaxed event, with the option of having a picnic at Wild River State Park afterward. There are beautiful sand bars and swimming areas along this stretch of the river.

We will put in at 11:00 at the Sunrise landing, and take out at Wild River State Park Landing. Renters will grab the 10:00 shuttle (be there by 9:30). People with their own boats will need to be at the put in by 10:00 to do the "reverse shuttle." It takes about 1 hr and 15 min to get there, depending on where coming from, so, you might be meeting to carpool at 8 or 8:30 a.m.

20 canoes have been reserved with the rental service at Wild River (Eric's Bike and Canoe rentals). It was $35 per canoe/shuttle last year. For rentals, a shuttle service is provided to the put in at Sunrise. Instead of calling Eric directly, this year, I will handle the sign ups. Your cars remain at the take out, waiting for you when done.

If interested in participating, send e-mail to Karen with these details. Many more details regarding shuttles, carpools, what to bring, etc. will provided to participants closer to the date. See last summers July 14 trip and trip report in the activities archive. Max trip size: unlimited.

Friday – Sunday, July 11 – 13
Camping at Wild River State Park. Come join us at Wild River State Park for a weekend of outdoor fun.

Friday night: The main purpose is to be already up at Wild River State Park the next morning (Saturday, July 12) to participate in the St. Croix River Leisurely Paddle/Float/Swim. Note: Registration for camping and the St. Croix River Leisurely Paddle/Float/Swim are separate. For information regarding the float, please refer to the posting on that.

Saturday night to Sunday: is to just relax after a day of floating and enjoy the rest of the weekend. More details to follow as the date approaches. To reserve your spot: e-mail or call Jen with the following information: name, phone #, e-mail, Rover's membership # and which nights are you staying. Your spot will be considered reserved when we receive your deposit and member #. Estimated cost: $6 per night. Deposit: $6 per night. Max trip size: 15 people.

Wednesday, July 9 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking at Fort Snelling State Park. Meet in the interpretive center parking lot at 7:00 p.m. We will hike the 3.5-mile Pike Island loop that goes through the woods and to the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. We should finish around 8:30. We hike rain or shine, so bring your rain gear. Bring bug spray and water also. We can go out for ice cream afterwards if desired.

Directions to Fort Snelling State Park: From Hwy 5 by the airport, take the Post Road exit and enter the park at the stone gate. Follow the main road approx. 2–3 miles. The road will end in the interpretive center parking lot. A state park sticker is required. ($5/day or $25/year pass) | Map of park |

Thursday, July 3 DAY TRIP
Urban hike. Hike a loop along the Mississippi from Boom Island Park to the Stone Arch Bridge and the free Twin Cities River Rats water-ski show between the Broadway and Plymouth bridges and/or the free Mill City Museum courtyard concert by Kwame Tsikata, a Ghanaian-born rap artist. Food is available at both places. Leave at 6 p.m. from Boom Island Park on the east end of the Plymouth Avenue bridge, just north of downtown Minneapolis. There's a pay parking lot.

Thursday – Sunday, July 3 – 6
Intro to the Border Route Trail. We're planning a trip to the Pigeon River Section of the Border Route Trail over the 4th of July weekend. This will give you a great chance to visit the Border Route Trail, one of the highest rated trails in the Midwest. You'll enjoy excellent scenery, gourmet food by our renowned foody, Trish Hannah, unbeatable camaraderie, plus great swimming at our campsite. This section of the BRT lends itself well to day hiking as it has a total of 5 access points, lots of great overlooks, and very little damage from the "Big Blow" of 7/4/1999. As many of you already know, the BRT was built by Rovers during the 1970's. It's a significant part of Rover's heritage to which we'd like to introduce newer members, hence this will be a combination day hiking / trail reconnaissance / deadfall clearing sweep. We did a sweep of this section last fall so we don't expect many deadfalls. That means that there would be little clearing to do and the group should move along almost as fast as a normal day hike group would travel on their own.

This will be a great chance to see a major piece of the BRT and feel good about contributing to its upkeep at the same time. Since the trip involves a deadfall sweep and is organized as a joint effort of Rovers and the Border Route Trail Association, the trip costs are tax deductible. We'll leave Thursday evening after work and return Sunday evening aiming for 9:30 p.m. In order to maximize transportation efficiency, we'll use my 12-passenger Dodge Maxi-Van plus the newly acquired Border Route Trail Association trailer for carrying extra gear. We'll car-camp at the Otter Lake trailhead with its "executive beach" and newly installed BWCAW style latrine. Trip cost of $75 includes transportation and all food except for stops on the way up and back. Estimated cost: $75. Deposit: $75. Max trip size: 12.

Friday – Monday, June 27 – 30
Beginner Boundary Waters Canoeing. Entry point Brule Lake. Meet for carpooling at Roseville REI Friday morning, returning Monday evening. More details to follow Estimated cost: $70. Deposit: $40. Max trip size: 8.

Thursday, June 26 DAY TRIP
Hiking in Lake Elmo. Hiking at Sunfish Lake Park in Lake Elmo. Just east of 694 on 5 (Stillwater blvd) to 10000 Stillwater Lane. Dirt paths. Meet at 7:00 p.m. for an hour or so hike.

Thursday, June 26 DAY TRIP
Beginner Mountain Biking — Part 1. Mountain biking doesn't always mean hopping logs and avoiding collisions with trees. Join us for a great aerobic workout riding non-technical turf trails. Meet in the northwest corner of the parking lot of the Champlin Cinema at 6:00pm. From there we will bike to Elm Creek Park Reserve and explore the trails. HELMETS REQUIRED!

Champlin Cinema is located at 11500 Theatre Drive N. Take 169 north to 117th Avenue (you’ll pass the theater), and turn left at the stoplight. Turn left on Theater Drive and you’ll see us in the parking lot.

Wednesday, June 25 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking in the historic town of Mendota. Hike the bike trail that goes along the River. It is not paved, so if it is too muddy we will hike the upper trail along the river which is paved. Plan to hike for an hour and half. This will be rain or shine unless it is severe weather. Meet in Mendota across the street from Lucky’s. It is near the historic buildings on Highway 13. If anyone is interested in meeting at Lucky’s at 6:00 p.m. for a burger before the hike, let me know and I will get a table.

Sunday, June 22 DAY TRIP, BEGINNER SERIES
Beginning Sea Kayaking Lessons. This class is for kayakers will little to moderate experience wanting to learn the basics of sea kayaking or refresh their skills! Class covers boats and equipment, launchings and landings, wet exits, paddle float self-rescue, wind/weather, signalling/safety, navigation, T rescue, strokes. Instructor: Jerome Rausch (ACA certified instructor) At Bush Lake in Bloomington from 9 am to 4 pm. BYOB (touring or sea kayak and accessories) and lunch. Estimated cost: $125.00. Deposit: $75.00. Max trip size: 10.

Saturday, June 21 DAY TRIP
Boat Cruise. Includes three-hour cruise on Lake Minnetonka's "Lady of the Lake," two drink tickets (beer or wine), complementary soft drinks, food, music/dancing. Meet before 6:00 p.m. at the Port of Excelsior Bar and Lounge at 1 Water St., Excelsior (across from the docks). No canoeing, kayaking, or boating experience required. Estimated cost: Advanced tickets: $28 until June 14, $33 after June 14 if space is available. Deposit: Full Amount. Max trip size: 125.

Send checks payable to "Phloatin Activities" to:
Phloatin on Lake Minnetonka
304 Northland Ave.
Stillwater, MN 55082

June, 20, 21, or 22 DAY TRIP
Sailing. Sailing on Lake Pepin for the day on a 27' rollerfurling sloop. We would take one car, (hopefully) — looking for someone to drive; and arrive at Hanson's Harbor at 8:30 a.m., an hour drive from St Paul. Then check in, sail to at 4:00 p.m., and return. Stopping to eat if people desire. No sailing experience needed. This is late notice to charter the boat, so if you're serious, contact Geoffrey ASAP with the day you are available. The boat is chartered rain or shine (and thus no refunds), unless a storm prevents boats from being on the water. Estimated cost: $55. Deposit: $55. Max trip size: 5-6.

Thursday, June 19 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. Meet in the Jensen Lake parking lot at 7:00 p.m. This is a 2 1/4 mile hike. We should finish before 8:30 p.m. Family friendly. Bring bug spray and water. We will try and go out for ice cream afterwards. Join us on 6/26, 7/3, 7/10 as well!

Directions to Lebanon Hills Regional Park: Take 35E South to Eagan. Exit at Cliff Rd and go East. Turn right on Pilot Knob Rd. The park entrance will be on your left.

Wednesday, June 18 DAY TRIP
Birding. Casual birding with people who enjoy seeing, identifying, and watching birds. Location will be at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Start from the front of the visitor center at 6:30 p.m. There will be a walk down the Center's trail for those who can handle a moderately steep grade for less than 1/4 mile. Birding also around the visitor center grounds on flat terrain and viewing the adjoining hillside and river valley. Bring binoculars, if you have them.

Wednesday, June 18 WEDNESDAY NIGHT HIKE
Hiking at Sucker Lake Recreational Area/Vadnais Regional Park in Vadnais Heights. Start at 7 p.m.from the Sucker Lk picnic area parking lot and hike around St Pauls' water reservoirs until approx 8:30. Then ice cream/treats at a nearby Dairy Queen or Culvers. For an urban location, it's very Northwoods-like-no lakeside development or boats allowed because this is where St Paul draws it's water. Another hightlight is a stand of Red Pines planted backed in 1914. Note that the trails are posted no pets-so sorry-no dogs. Could be buggy, so plan accordingly.

Directions to Snail Lake Regional Park: From 35W go East on County 96, or from 35E go West on Hwy 96 (County and Hwy 96 are the same). Turn South on Rice St. (Cty 54). Go one block and take the first left to the park. It should be marked by a sign that reads “Sucker Lake Recreational Area.” Meet in the left parking lot.

Wednesday, June 18 SOCIAL EVENT
Alive after Five at Peavy Plaza. Meet at 4:30 at McCormick & Schmick's (great happy hour and cheap food) then wander over to Peavy Plaza enjoy the music. If it is raining stay at McCormick and Schmick's. We should be easy to find.

Sunday, June 15 DAY TRIP
Road bike ride. Bike to Stillwater to watch "the toughest criterium race in North America," the final stage of the Nature Valley Grand Prix professional bike race. Our ride will be approximately 25 miles roundtrip. We'll take the Gateway Trail to Pine Point Park, then ride on roads to Stillwater. We'll see the women's race at 12:00 and the men's race at 1:30, before leaving Stillwater for our return ride. Bring water, and either something to eat for lunch or money for lunch in Stillwater. Helmets are required. Meet at Mills Fleet Farm, 5635 Hadley Avenue North (Near the intersection of Hwy 36 and 694), in Oakdale at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, June 15 DAY TRIP
Biking. Meet at Tuggs Tavern on Main St. on the Mississippi (St. Anthony Main) at 3:15 pm for a social bike ride along the Mississippi river and returning to Tuggs around 4:30 pm or so. Stay to eat and listen to live band music. Estimated cost: None.

Wednesday, June 11 NIGHT HIKE
Hiking at Fort Snelling State Park. Meet in the interpretive center parking lot at 7:00 p.m. We will hike the 3.5-mile Pike Island loop that goes through the woods and to the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. We should finish around 8:30. We hike rain or shine, so bring your rain gear. Bring bug spray and water also. We will try and go out for ice cream afterwards.

Saturday, June 7
Inline Skating. Beginner's inline skate along the Greenway trail. While everyone is encouraged to join us, this trip is ideal for those who are new to the sport, sometimes don't feel they can keep up with the group (we won't leave you behind), or have not been out much on their skates this year. The Greenway trail is a particularly wide, smooth, and flat trail, ideal for beginning skaters and/or social skates. We will take a leisurely skate on the Greenway and then have a late lunch at Punch Pizza. Wrist guards, knee guards, and helmets are recommended. Calhoun Cycle (612-827-8231) on the corner of Lake and James in Uptown rents inline skates, call and check closer to date (they are selling the business and hopefully will be renting skates again this year). If renting skates please plan to arrive at 10:30 with your skates. Call Kathy or Melissa if there is a delay at Calhoun Cycle. Meet at the Greenway entrance / back parking lot of Market Plaza in Uptown (behind Punch Pizza, 3226 West Lake Street in Minneapolis) at 10:30.

Saturday, June 7 DAY TRIP
Canoe/Kayak the Rum River. Day float on the Rum River from Isanti to St. Francis. What to bring: We will have lunch along the river bank so bring a lunch, snack food, and enough beverages for the length of the trip. Also, bring rain gear and a warm layer of clothing for if the weather turns cool. The water should be warm enough to swim in if you want to, so bring a swimsuit. Bring bug repellent in case it is needed. And other stuff to bring: sun hat, sun screen, and sun glasses. This is optional, but will eat out at a restaurant/bar afterwards for those who want to, so bring money for that expense.

If you do not have a canoe partner at this time, let us know. If you have an open spot in your canoe, let us know. I want to make sure we have enough spots for people who want to go. Be prepared to set aside most of the day for the canoe/kayak trip.

Car pooling: If you want to carpool, we will meet in the parking lot across the street from REI located 1955W County Road B2, Roseville, MN 55113 at 9:00 a.m. and leave soon after that. Sharing of vehicle expenses should be worked out between the driver and their riders. For everyone else, meet at Martin's Landing in Isanti at 10 AM. | directions and logistics |

Wednesday, June 4 WEDNESDAY NIGHT HIKE
Urban Hike with a Dinner Stop. Come hike wooded trails through Wirth Park, around Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake, and the southern end of Isles to Calhoun, where we'll stop for dinner at Tin Fish before hiking back. Meet at the Wirth Lake Beach parking lot in Minneapolis at 6:30 p.m. and plan to return around 9 p.m. (note the 6:30 start time — we will need to leave promptly). This hike is approximately 3 miles each way. Dogs welcome.

Directions: Wirth Lake Beach parking lot is just east of the intersection of Glenwood Av and Theodore Wirth Parkway. From I-394, take Penn exit, go north to Glenwood and take a left which will take you into the park (the lot will be on your right). From HWY 100, take Glenwood exit, go east (toward downtown). Continue straight at intersection with Wirth Parkway, and then look for the lot on your left.

Wednesday, June 4 DAY TRIP
Birding. Casual birding where everyone helps each other identify and enjoy the sights and sounds of birds. Starting location will be the parking lot on the north end of the old cedar road bridge. Bring binoculars if you have them. Take the Shakopee Road Exit west from Route 77, turn south from Shakopee Road onto Old Cedar Road and go about 1/2 mile to parking lot. Birds observed during the May 28 trip were: Green Heron, Warbling Vireo, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Marsh Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Mallard, Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Canada Goose, American Coot, Tinkerbell, American Coot, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Nighthawk, American Goldfinch, Mourning Dove, Common Crow, Ring-necked Pheasant, Northern Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Great Blue Heron, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Bald Eagle, House Sparrow, European Starling.

Friday, May 30 SOCIAL EVENT
Hoedag Hoedown. This is an event to raise awareness about the need to increase use of our state parks and natural areas, and help kids learn a love for the outdoors. Come for this fun, quirky, community square dance and support a good cause! It will be great exercise and you'll meet cool people too. All proceeds will go to benefit Camp Bovey, a camp run by a Twin Cities non-profit. The doors open at 7:00 p.m. and dancing begins at 7:30 — be there or be square!

Location: East Side Neighborhood Services Gym 1700 2nd Street, NE Minneapolis, MN, 55413. Please RSVP. (send checks made out to: “Camp Bovey” to East Side Neighborhood Services, c/o Scott Miller, 1700 2nd Street, NE Minneapolis, MN, 55413 ). Suggested Donation $15 in advance, $20 at the Door. Estimated cost: $15. Deposit: $0. Max trip size: 200.

Friday – Sunday, May 30 – June 1
Hiking. Spring Trail Rendezvous volunteer weekend at Voyageurs National Park. The goal is to monitor all 60 miles of the park's trail system and identify maintenance needs so park staff can more quickly clear. Groups of 2 to 4 will hike sections of the park's trails on Friday and Saturday and map locations of fallen trees and over-grown brush that need to be cleared. No prior experience is necessary. Volunteers should be prepared for a full day or two of hiking.

Wednesday, May 28 DAY TRIP
Birding. Casual opportunity to gather for viewing sights and sounds of local birds for fun. All skill levels welcome. We all learn from skills of each other. Bring binoculars and a friendly smile. Time is 6:30 p.m. Estimated cost: None. Deposit: None. Max trip size: None.

Location: We will meet at the parking lot on the north side of the Old Cedar Road bridge (from Rt 77, take exit for Shakopee Road and go west to Old Cedar Road and then south to the bridge parking lot — about 1/2 mile from Shakopee Road).

Friday – Monday, May 23 – 26
Beginner Backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail. Hike the Superior Hiking Trail section close to Gooseberry Falls. Hike 5-7 miles per day. There are backpacks and sleeping bags available for use at the Rovers Cage. You will need broken-in hiking boots. The Superior Hiking Trail has many hills and hiking/backpacking can be strenuous at times. Frank & Scott are normally at the meetings if you would like to address us with questions or meet them in person otherwise give the a call or e-mail. We will meet a couple times in May after the meeting to go over packing and to get backpacks from the cage. Leaving Friday morning, returning Monday evening. Contact Frank to sign up and put down a deposit. Estimated cost: $45. Deposit: $20. Max trip size: 8.

Friday – Monday, May 23 – 26
Backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail. Three days of backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail for people with backpacking experience. The route is from Lake Cty 6 through Section 13, past Egge Lake, Sonju Lake, then through Crosby Manitou State Park, ending at the Caribou State Wayside. 27.4 miles total. Includes excellent moose habitat, cedar groves, wide variety of terrain, dramatic topography, and views. Leaving Friday late afternoon, returning Monday late evening. Estimated cost: $50. Deposit: $20. Max trip size: 6.

Friday – Monday, May 23 – 26
Beginner Boundary Waters Canoeing. Have you always wanted to experience one of the most beautiful, pristine, peaceful wilderness in the country? If you have never experienced the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, this is the trip for you. We will meet prior to trip date and go over everything you need to know about canoeing, portaging, and camping in the BWCAW. Leave the Twin Cities Friday around noon, returning late Monday evening. Entry point to be determined. Estimated cost: $80. Deposit: $40. Max trip size: 6.

Friday – Monday, May 23 – 26
Big Cabin — Voyageurs National Park. We will be staying in a large Cabin (Timberwolf Cabin) at Moose Horn Lodge on the southwestern shore of Lake Kabetogama in Voyageurs National Park. The cabin is on the lake on the border of the park. The resort supplies all the boats (kayaks, canoes, pontoon). There will be several departure times on Friday - 2:00, 5:30-6:00, and late night. There will be a reserved pontoon ride on Saturday. The weekend activities will be loosely organized, and everyone can play at their own pace and choice. Go with the flow or create your own flow.

There will be lodging and food costs, and determining carpooling/gas costs. Please provide a $50 deposit to reserve a spot. Estimated Lodging Cost: With 8 people = $170 per person for 3 nights. With 14 people = $123 per person for 3 nights. Less $ if we have more people. (14 beds = 14 people, and each person has their own bed). Food Cost: Exact $ TBD. Weʼll have a spaghetti dinner, and another pot-luck grilling dinner. B-fast and lunch details TBD.

Thursday – Monday, May 22 – 26 PINE/PIKE LAKES
Border Route Trail Clearing in the BWCAW. The group will drive up to McFarland Lake and camp there Thursday night and will canoe 6 miles to camp on Pine Lake near the Pine / Pike portage the next day. A short hike up the portage will get to the Border Route Trail where they will work to the west. Transportation and all meals except those on the road will be provided.

Thursday – Monday, May 22 – 26 GOGEBIC LAKE
Border Route Trail Clearing in the BWCAW. group will drive up to the ranger cabin on Bearskin Lake and stay there Thursday night. They will canoe/boat shuttle 6 miles to the east end of Clearwater Lake, then hike 1.5 miles to camp at Gogebec Lake. They will work to the east from camp. Transportation and all meals except those on the road will be provided..

Saturday, May 17 DAY TRIP
Hike St. Croix Regional Bluffs. This Washington County Park is an unexplored treasure on the St. Croix River. Meet up at 10:00 a.m. Common Grounds Coffee shop in Lakeland at the Lakeland Plaza. Bring water, lunch, and tick replellant. For those interested in more fun we can stop at Carpenter Nature Center, Afton Berry patch, and wine tasting at Afton May Fair 2 p.m. Estimated cost: $5.00 for Washington County park day permit.

Saturday, May 17 DAY TRIP
Cannon River Paddling. We will paddle the Cannon River about 13 miles. The river portion of the canoe trip will take about 3-5 hours depending on how often people stop along the way. For those that wish, there is a bar/restaurant in Dundas where we can eat after the trip. To RSVP and receive additional information, please contact the trip coordinator. See last year's trip and trip report from May 13 in the activities archive. People who want to carpool will be meeting around 9:15 a.m. The shuttle at the put-in will be at 10:15 a.m. Plan on this being a full day event.

Friday, May 16 SOCIAL EVENT
Phloatin to Seven Corners. (Washington Ave. / Cedar Ave. Mpls.). 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Bullwinkle's Saloon (1429 Washington Ave. South). 6:30 pm to 8 pm Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery (1430 Washington Ave. South). 8 pm to 9 pm Sgt. Preston's Saloon (221 Cedar Ave.). 9 pm - ??? Grandma's Saloon and Grill (1810 Washington Ave.). Stop at one location or two locations or all locations — whatever your up to or have time for.

Friday – Sunday, May 16 – 18
Bike & Camp. Nugget Lake County Park is a gem on the rim of Wisconsin's driftless area, just an hours drive away. We'll camp here and bike loops of up to 60 miles on scenic back roads to historic waysides, UFO sites, Lake Pepin, and a 50 mph hill! We'll provide meals, but may eat out for lunch; BYOB. Drive east on I-94 to exit 3 past Hudson. Take Hwy 35 around River Falls & Hwy 65 on to Ellsworth. Then go east on Hwy 72 and follow signs to Nugget Lake County Park . See link for more details. Estimated cost: $33. Deposit: $3. Max trip size: 13.

Thursday – Monday, May 15 – 19 HESTONS LODGE
Mechanized Trail Maintenance. This is a great opportunity to experience some of the best scenery in the Upper Midwest including views from the spectacular High Cliffs overlooking Gunflint Lake and the intimacy of the Brice-Breon Hiking Tail along Loon Lake. At the same time you’ll be personally rewarded by feeling really good about giving something back for those times when you've hiked or skied on well maintained trails. You’ll be in the company of some of the same people that helped build the BRT on a trip easy enough for beginners while at the same time being challenging and interesting enough for experienced hands.

We'll be staying at Heston’s Lodge (cushy), home of the best sauna on the lake and enjoy some of the best food that you’ll find on a Rover trip. We’ll be doing maintenance sweeps on the BRT from its connection with the Kekekabic Trail through to the BWCAW boundary to the east. We'll also be doing the Bryce Breon trail. Both of these trails were designed and built by Rover crews in the late 70's and early 80's. USFS certification required for chain saw operation, OJT provided for brushcutter operation.

This is a public service trip therefore you need not be a current Rover member to participate. Please contact the trip coordinator for a copy of the registration form, itinerary, and packing list or for the answers to any trip questions which you may have.

Great food, camaraderie that can't be surpassed, cushy lodging, and the entire trip cost, which includes all food from Friday breakfast through Sunday lunch, transportation, and lodging is tax deductible. The trip will depart the Twin Cities at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday evening and return at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday evening. What more could you ask for. Sign up today.

This trip is sponsored by the Border Route Trail Association , a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to the promotion and preservation of the Border Route Trail. Estimated cost: $75. Deposit: $75. Max trip size: 12.

Thursday – Sunday, May 15 –18 GOGEBIC LAKE
Border Route Trail Clearing in the BWCAW. On Friday, the group will drive up to the ranger cabin on Bearskin Lake and will canoe/boat shuttle 6 miles to the east end of Clearwater Lake, then hike 1.5 miles to camp at Gogebec Lake. They will work to the east from camp. Transportation and all meals except those on the road will be provided.

Thursday – Sunday, May 15 –18 PINE/PIKE LAKES
Border Route Trail Clearing in the BWCAW. The group will drive up to McFarland Lake and camp there Friday night. If the ice is out, they will canoe 6 miles to camp on Pine Lake near the Pine / Pike portage. A short hike up the portage will get to the Border Route Trail where they will work to the west.

If the ice is not out they will work from the McFarland trailhead and stay at the Mcfarland campsite. Transportation and all meals except those on the road will be provided.

Thursday – Sunday, May 15 – 18
Backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail. The hike will be from Co. road 58 to Judge Magney park. We will go up early Thursday afternoon and spend Thursday night at a camp site on the trail. Experience is necessary and you will be responsible for your own food. Estimated cost: $70. Deposit: $30. Max trip size: 6 people/3 tents.

Friday – Sunday, May 9 – 11
Trail Maintenance. Highlights will include scenic vistas from the bluffs overlooking South Fowl Lake and the Royal River valleys, intimate views of the Pigeon River, great food, plus the chance to see wildlife such as black bear, moose, and fox. You'll be in the company of some of the same people that helped build the BRT. This trip is easy enough for beginners while at the same time being challenging and interesting enough for experienced hands. We'll do a maintenance sweep east from Mcfarland Lake to the South Fowl access trail. If we have a sufficiently large crew, we'll also do a maintenance sweep from Otter Lake eastward towards the junction with the Superior Hiking Trail. While we'll be using chain saws and power brush cutters for the cutting there will be plenty of opportunities such as throwing brush and deadfall pieces, flagging, etc. for those preferring to keep their distance from the power equipment. We'll be camping at the Otter Lake trailhead.

This is a service trip therefore you need not be a current Rover member to participate. Please contact the trip coordinator for a copy of the registration form, itinerary, and packing list or for the answers to any trip questions which you may have.

Great food, camaraderie that can't be surpassed, and the entire trip cost of $70, which includes transportation plus all food from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch is tax deductible. The trip will depart the Twin Cities at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday evening and return at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday evening. What more could you ask for. Sign up today.

This trip is co-sponsored by the Border Route Trail Association, a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to the promotion and preservation of the Border Route Trail. Estimated cost: $70. Deposit: $70. Max trip size: 12.

Friday – Monday, May 9 –12 CLEARWATER LAKE
Border Route Trail Clearing in the BWCAW. The group will drive up to the ranger cabin on Bearskin Lake and stay there Friday night. They will canoe 4 miles to the middle of Clearwater Lake, and camp at the Clearwater / Mountain portage. The work area will be to the east from the portage. Transportation and all meals except those on the road will be provided.

Friday, May 9 – Sunday, May 18
Trail Layout & Maintenance. Join us on a week- long trail layout & maintenance trip to the Pigeon River and Gunflint Sections of the Border Route Trail. We'll be going up with the Otter Lake trip and staying at Otter Lake through Wednesday afternoon. We'll then drive to Heston's Lodge on Gunflint Lake to meet up with the weekend trip arriving on Thursday evening. Return to the Twin Cities will be on Sunday, May 18.

We'll flag a trail alignment reroute through a short area hit by the '99 Big Blow and also scout possible reroutes in the South Fowl Cliffs area. On Tuesday, we'll drive into Grand Marais to attend a Cook County Board meeting where the board will discuss whether the board should endorse the Minnesota Reroute of the North Country Trail which would incorporate the Superior Hiking Trail, the Border Route Trail, and the Kekekabic Trail. This NTC reroute will not proceed without Cook County Board approval. We'll have the use of John Elliot's van sized motorhome for cooking, refrigeration, and limited sleeping.

Thursday, May 8 DAY TRIP
Skating at Lake Harriet. Meet at the Bandshell at 6:45 p.m. Directions: Take 35W to 46th St. exit. Go West on 46th St. to Lake Harriet (about 1 mile). Turn right on Lake Harriet Pkwy. Head down the Parkway you will see the Bandshell in less than a mile. Park along Lake Harriet Pkwy.

Wednesdays in May DAY TRIP
Biking and Blading around Lake Phalen in St. Paul. Meet at 6:15 p.m. Leave at 6:30 p.m. Meet in the parking lot near the Beach House on the West side of the lake North of Maryland and Johnson Pky. Can't get there until after 6:30 p.m.? We will be going clockwise around the lake so head counter clockwise to meet up with the group on the Trail or call Fred at 651-428-2101 to find out where on the lake we are.

Mondays in May DAY TRIP
Biking/Blading on the Gateway Trail. Oakdale to Pine Point Park North of Stillwater. For social and aggressive bikers and bladers. Meet at 6:15 pm at the MN-DNR parking lot on the frontage road SE of the intersection of Hwy 36 and Hadley Ave. in Oakdale. Biking/Blading from 6:30 pm til about 8 pm. Socializing location afterward to be determine by the participants. To join us at the socializing location, call Fred to find out where we will be (probably the Tap & Grill at the NW corner of McKnight and Hwy 36 on May 5. In the event of questionable weather call Fred for up-to-date info.

Sunday. April 27 DAY TRIP
Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride. Come join us for this annual Spring fun ride. there are 30, 62, and 100-mile route options. Approximately 20 Rovers have already signed up to ride 30 miles with a few doing the 62 and 100-mile options. Check out the Ironman website for more info. Note this is not a race, but a leisurely ride at your own pace. For the long ride, we'll meet at 7 a.m. at the Lakeville High School to be sure to have plenty of time to enjoy the ride (and the rest stops too). The 30-milers will be meeting at REI in Bloomington at 7:00 a.m. for carpooling or the Lakeville High School at 8:00 a.m.. Estimated cost: $30 by 4/11. Event-day registration $45.

Sunday, April 27 DAY TRIP
Hike Afton State Park. Meet at Afton Bean Coffee Shop at 10:00 am. Bring water and food for lunch. If wet we can hike in the fields. Bring tick repellant. | Afton State Park |

Saturday, April 26 SOCIAL EVENT
Welcome Spring Potluck. Anytime after 7 p.m. at Karen's house. Hopefully we will be able to be outside! Everything was still exactly where we left it last November. Bring your beverage of choice and a dish to share. RSVP to Karen (e-mail preferred) to get directions and let her know what you are bringing.

Friday – Sunday, April 25 – 27 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo. Want to check out our club? The Outdoor Adventure Expo’s fifty plus exhibitors can help you find your true passion for the outdoors. Check the Special Events page for more information.

We need volunteers to help staff the booth. Please contact Stacey G. to sign up for a 2-hour time slot.

Saturday, April 19 SEMIANNUAL EVENT
Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup. Meet at the corner of Fernbrook Lane N and Elm Creek Rd, at 10:00am. Our adopted 'highway' is very rural, and runs along and through peaceful Elm Creek Park Preserve, in Dayton and Champlin.

The Zachary Lane portion of our adopted road will be under construction this year. In place of cleaning that section, some volunteers will be adding fresh wood chips to the trails near Eastman Nature Center. We will still pick up litter along the east-west portion of our road, Elm Creek Rd. We should all be done by noon at the latest. Free lunch will be provided at Broadway Pizza.

Bring hiking boots, gloves, fanny pack, and water bottle. Rovers provides orange vests and garbage bags.

| map & directions |

Norm S.

Saturday, April 12, 8:30am - 11am DAY TRIP — VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
St. Paul Spring Parks Cleanup. This event was lots of fun last year, and Rovers will do the same park this year. We are part of a multi-park community cleanup day.

KICK OFF CELEBRATION AT PHALEN PARK PAVILLION, ST. PAUL - 8:30 A.M.

To get there: (map): From St. Paul, go north 2-1/2 miles on I-35E, exit Wheelock Pkwy, go east 1.8 miles, left on Phalen Drive to the picnic pavilion.

Go to the kick off meeting first and meet the rest of the volunteer team from MN Rovers, as well as volunteers going to many other parks. Gloves will be provided at the kick off, but if you have a favorite pair, bring them.

Just check in as part of the Rovers and get gloves, bags and register for the raffle. Coffee, donuts and refreshments will be available. When festivities wind down at 9:00 we'll head down to Henry Park. Henry Park is a recently donated property. It is ten acres of wooded land on a bluff overlooking Pigs Eye Lake and the Mississippi valley.

Get there: (map):

From the kickoff, go east on Wheelock Pkwy for 0.4 mi.
Keep right onto Johnson Pkwy for 1.6 mi.
Turn left (East) onto 3rd Street E for 0.2 mi.
Turn right (South) onto N Etna St for 0.4 mi.
Etna becomes US Hwy 10 and Hwy 61. Follow south for 1.9 mile.
Turn left (North-East) onto Lower Afton Rd for one block.>
Turn right (South) onto Point Douglas Rd S for 1 mile.
Turn left (East) onto Highwood Ave E for 0.3 mi.
Bear right (South) onto Skyway Drive for one block.

Map of Phalen Park

Norm S.

Saturday, April 5, 7:30 AM – 5 PM DAY TRIP / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Whitewater State Park Flood Cleanup and trail repair. Whitewater State Park needs our help again as this SE MN park continues to recover from last summer's flood. We will be repairing hiking trails and continuing with clean-up efforts.

Meet at the Bloomington REI parking lot at 7:45 AM to carpool down to the park. Bring shovels/rakes/bow saws, if you have them. The park has some tools for us to use, too. Dress for the weather and pack a lunch and water. Dinner out once back in the TC for those interested. Estimated cost: share transportation costs.

Saturday, March 29 DAY TRIP & SOCIAL EVENT
Annual Urban Hike and Pizza Making Party. Come and join us. All skill levels welcome. We will meet at 4:00 p.m. and hike until about 6:00 p.m. and then we will come back to house. At 6:30 p.m. we will start to make and eat pizzas and socialize. Bring one topping to share on the pizzas or a dessert and a beverage of your choice. Pizza crusts and pizza sauce will be supplied. Come for both the hike and the pizza party and help create interesting pizzas or come for just the hike or just the party but come hungry. For directions, call or e-mail and also, let me know what your bringing for a pizza topping or dessert.

Long Weekend in March
Winter Camping in the BWCAW. Long weekend in March. Two nights camping. Temps may be mild. Snow depth good. We will do a short loop: 1) West Bearskin Lake 2) Dunkin Lake 3) Rose Lake 4) Daniels Lake 5) West Bearskin Lake. Tow a sled with your gear. Should be quiet, beautiful, and very fun! Very memorable being by a campfire in the BWCAW during the winter time. Difficulty Level = Medium. Estimated cost: $50. Deposit: $25. Max trip size: 4-5.

Saturday, March 15 DAY TRIP
Downhill Ski, Snowboard, Telemark. Enjoy one of the last days of winter on the slopes at Afton Alps. Tailgate BBQ for lunch. Bring a lawn chair, something to grill, something to drink, and something to share. I will provide the grill and charcoal. Meet at the parking lot in front of the Meadows Chalet (far end, lower lot) at 10:00 a.m. Eat lunch at around 1:00 p.m. Ski some more after lunch and stay as long as you feel. Estimated cost: $37. Max trip size: Unlimited.

Saturday, March 8 DAY TRIP
Downhill Ski/Snowboard at Spirit Mountain. Enjoy a day on the slopes at Spirit Mountain, near Duluth. This is a casual Downhill/ski Snowboard trip, all skill levels welcome, perfect for anyone new to Rovers, or visitors who want to check out the club. Far enough out of town for that break of "getting away from it all," close enough that you can be back in the evening and still get in on other Rover activities on Sunday! Meet at Cari's in Roseville 8:30 a.m. to carpool. Arrive at Spirit Mountain approx 10:30-11:00. Ski/board at your leisure till approx 4-5-6? p.m., to return home sometime mid-late evening. Bring a lunch/snack or money for chalet food. $$NOTE$$: We have limitted discount lift tickets available at $17.00, so ask me about these! Please call/e-mail me to confirm and get on this trip. Estimated cost: $17 OR $40 lift ticket, + optional gear rental and lunch/dinner.

Sunday, March 9 DAY TRIP
Mississippi River Hike/Walk. Celebrate the first day of daylight savings time! The sun doesn't set until 7:11 p.m. today, the first post-7:00 p.m. sunset since September 27. Let's take advantage and hike along (and far above) the Mighty Mississippi. Meet outside of Dunn Bros coffee house (next to the Longfellow Grill) on Lake Street and West River Rd. Departure time is 5:00 p.m. We'll cross the Lake Street/Marshall bridge, hike along East River Rd in St. Paul, cross the river on the Ford Parkway Bridge and hike West River Rd back to the starting point. This is an urban hike on paved paths, which may be icy. This loop is about 5 miles and will take approximately two hours, so we'll finish about 7:00 p.m. Optional dinner or dessert at the Longfellow Grill after the hike. Bring a friend — Rover membership not required for day trips.

Thursday, March 5 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the French Park visitor center and ski for a couple hours. Beginners welcome. Rentals available. Cost: $4 for a ski pass.

Directions to Clifton E. French Regional Park Reserve: Located on County Road 9 in Plymouth. From I-494, take County Road 9 (Rockford Road) east 1 mile to the park entrance. From Highway 169, take County Road 9 west 2 miles to the park entrance.

Thursday, February 28 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the French Park visitor center and ski for a couple hours. Beginners welcome. Rentals available. Cost: $4 for a ski pass.

Cross-Country Skiing. Join us for the Winter Tracks Festival — A Festival to Celebrate Winter on the Gunflint Experience classic Minnesota winter at its best with unique winter fun and recreation at the third annual Winter Tracks celebration on the Gunflint Trail on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We'll be staying at Heston's Resort on Gunflint Lake. Amenities include modern log cabins, the best sauna on the lake plus direct access to the Rover built and maintained Border Route Trail but also a great selection of ski trails to suit every taste from skate skiing to non-groomed backcountry. Ace chef Trish Hannah of BRT maintenance trip fame has agreed to be in charge of food. We guarantee that you'll love this wrap up to the ski season.

This will be a 3-day trip leaving Thursday night, February 28 and returning Sunday night, March 2. Trip cost includes transportation, food, ski pass, and lodging. Visit www.hestons.com and www.wintertracks.com for further information on the lodge and the Winter Tracks Festival. Estimated cost: 230.00. Deposit: 100.00. Max trip size: 16.

Friday – Sunday, February 29 – March 2
Skiing and Snowboarding. Do something special for leap day this year. Come up to Lutsen and join us in front of the fireplace at Papa Charlie's restaurant. Then stay for two wonderful days of skiing and boarding on wooded slopes overlooking beautiful Lake Superior. We'll be staying in Lutsen Mountain Inn, at the foot of the mountain. Free shuttle buses take you the 1/4 mile to the chairlifts and gondola. Includes lift tickets for Saturday and Sunday, lodging Friday and Saturday nights, continental breakfasts, whirlpool and sauna. Rooms have refrigerators and microwaves. Lunches on the slopes, evening dining out. Some experience necessary. Trip size: 10+, can be easily expanded thru mid December. Meet at REI Roseville at afternoon, returning when you've had your fill. Estimated cost: $200. Deposit: $100. Max trip size: 10+. Lutsen Snow Report

Friday – Sunday or Monday, Feb. 22 – 24 or 25 SORRY, THIS TRIP IS FULL, WAIT LIST OPEN
Cross-Country Skiing/Snowshoeing. A popular trip! The Tettegouche State Park walk-in (1.75 hilly miles, each way) cabins. We haul our gear in together on sleds! The cabins are rustic, secluded, and right on miles of beautiful ski trails! Just like "the good old days" the cabins have wood heat and we haul water from a well... BUT...with some modern touches like a cook stove, a heated bathroom/shower building, and electricity. Cabin C (6 people) is reserved for 3 nights: Arrive Friday, Feb 22 and depart Monday, Feb 25. Cabin A (6 people) is reserved for 2 nights: Arrive Friday, Feb. 22 and depart Sunday, Feb 24. Both cabins may do dinner together. This is a very fun trip but requires a lot of preparation and planning. Everyone that goes on this trip will choose a coordinating/organizing task: meal planning and shopping, carpool and driver coordination, or gear organization/cabin coordination. Meet at across from REI Roseville, for carpooling at morning, returning evening. Estimated cost: $50/ night including lodging/transportation/food. Deposit: $20/night. Max trip size: 12.

Thursday, February 21 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the French Park visitor center and ski for a couple hours. Beginners welcome. Rentals available. Cost: $4 or buy an annual TRPD ski pass for $50 ($25 for additional people in your household).

Wednesday, February 20
Total Lunar Eclipse. Join me as I view (weather permitting!) the Total Lunar Eclipse (see link below) — when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. This eclipse is ideally situated for evening viewing across the Americas, and the Moon will be high in the sky for us. Partial phases start at 7:43pm and end at 11:09am. Totality starts at 9:01pm and ends at 9:52pm. Let's meet up at 7:30pm in the North Parking lot at Lake Calhoun (Lake St. to Thomas — just east of Dean Parkway). I will bring a small telescope. If you wish, bring binoculars, a camera, lawn chair/blankets, warm clothing and some snacks/warm beverages. There are multiple coffee shops in the area.

Note: This is not an overnight trip…everyone is welcome. Please contact me at sureshks1@msn.com if you are planning to attend. If we need to cancel due to weather I will send out an e-mail late that afternoon.

Sunday, February 17 DAY TRIP
Beginner Cross-Country Skiing. Beginner session, skate and/or classic skiing. Plan to meet at 1pm at Como Park in St. Paul. Rentals are available but may be somewhat limited compared to Three Rivers Park District — so arrive a little early to get set up if you need to rent. If conditions aren't good for classic, we'll meet at Elm Creek Park in Maple Grove. Please let me know if you plan to attend so I know how many to expect. Max trip size: 10.

Saturday – Monday, February 16 – 18
BWCAW Winter Camping. Three days of winter camping in the Gunflint district of the BWCAW over the Presidents Day weekend. Leave early Saturday morning and return monday evening at 8 pm. We will ski/snowshoe a few miles and set up a base camp to day trip out of. Estimated cost: $50. Max trip size: 6.

Saturday, February 16 DAY TRIP
Snowshoeing at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. Join us for some off-trail hiking in the snow! Meet at the Jensen Lake Trailhead off Pilot Knob Road at 11:00 am and be ready to hike by 11:15. If there is not enough snow on the trail we will hike on the lakes. There is a 2.5 mile canoe route through the park. This trip is suitable for beginners but all levels of experience are welcome. Snowshoes are available FREE from the cage and/or from REI in Bloomington. Plan to meet at 11:00 and hike for a few hours. Bring a lunch or snack.

Directions to Lebanon Hills Regional Park: Take 35E South to Eagan. Exit at Cliff Rd and go East. Turn right on Pilot Knob Rd. The park entrance will be on your left.

Friday – Monday, February 15 – 18
Cross-Country Ski/Snowshoe. Ninth Annual President's Day Weekend at National Forest Lodge. Great skiing and snowshoeing. The Isabella area consistently gets enough snow to ski and there are miles of trails for all levels of skiers. Enjoy the stars and tall pines while you relax in the outdoor hot tub after a hard day of skiing. Or enjoy a hot sauna and cool dip in the lake if you prefer. Play games or socialize in the main lodge at night. Stay in rustic cabins. The food is prepared by the lodge and includes meals from Friday dinner through Monday lunch. NO CHORES REQUIRED! Meet at REI in Roseville for carpooling. Meet at REI in Roseville at TBD, returning TBD. Estimated cost: $260 + transportation. Deposit: $130. Max trip size: 20.

Get a 5% discount if the balance is paid in cash. Bring your sleeping bag, toiletries (including towel & face cloth), and any personal beverages. This may be the last year of operation during the winter months at National Forest Lodge.

Friday – Sunday, February 15 – 17
Cross-Country Skiing/Snowshoeing. The Heartwood Conference Center is about 2.5 hrs from the Twin Cities in Trego, Wisconsin. This is the weekend before the Berkebeiner. Also, aside from the cross-country skiing opportunities around the lodge there is the option to go to the Blue Hills, the highest closest point to the Twin Cities, where there is almost always snow or to get on the Birkebeiner trail.

Meals include Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast. The meals are very good. The cost will be $86 for those meals plus Friday and Saturday night's lodging. Linens such as bedding and towels will be provided. There are kitchenettes in the Pine Village duplex that we are renting, so Friday evening, Saturday lunch, Sunday lunch could be prepared in the kitchennettes.

Since there were not enough people by the cut-off date of 30 days before the trip, we will be renting only 1/2 of the duplex. It looks like now that there will be 14 people. There are 14 beds so we are OK on beds. The cost of the trip will be reduced by $28. The refund of that amount will be made in-person when we are up there. There is the possibility of staying Sunday night if 7 people decide to do that.

Meeting at REI Roseville for possible carpooling on Friday, at noon, returning Sunday afternoon. Others may want to stay over Sunday night and split the $200/night cost. Estimated cost for 2 nights and meals as described: $86. Deposit: $43. Max trip size: 14.

Thursday, February 14 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the French Park visitor center and ski for a couple hours. Beginners welcome. Rentals available. Cost: $4 or buy an annual TRPD ski pass for $50 ($25 for additional people in your household).

Thursday – Monday, February 7 – 11
Vail 2008 Colorado Ski Trip. The trip includes RT airfare-Mpls to Denver, ground transfers to Vail, four nights at Vail International Condos—4 per 2 bedroom/2 bath condo, walking distance to lifts, four and a half days of skiing — lift tickets extra ($210 for 3 of 5 days skiing; $255 for 4 of 6 days), outdoor hot tub and heated pool, pre- and post-parties. Go to www.PhloatinActivities.org for more Info and a sign up form. Estimated cost: $710 per person minimum occupancy . Deposit: $250. Max trip size: Currently 6 openings, maximum size 32.

Friday – Sunday, February 1 – 3
Downhill Skiing. Friday - Sunday, February 1 - 3 Downhill Skiing at Lutsen, Minnesota. the best downhill skiing in the Midwest! Drive up Friday and ski Sat. and Sun. Two nights lodging and two days of skiing included. Celebrate whatever event with an evening of merriment at Papa Charlie's at Lutsen. Also opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Bring your camera as the the scenery is fantastic and the lake awe-inspiring! Car pooling is possible. Estimated cost: $140. Deposit: Call for information (transportation not included). Max trip size: 8-12.

Friday – Sunday, February 1 – 3
Cross Country Skiing. Cross Country Skiing in Bayfield, WI. Friday: Leave REI Roseville around 9:15 a.m.. We will stop for lunch and may stop and ski for 1–1 1/2 hours on the way up to Bayfield. We have 2 buildings at Seagull Bay Motel (one is an old Bed & Breakfast which has a small sauna). Both buildings overlook Lake Superior and are very nice. Friday night we will eat supper at Maggie's in Bayfield. Sat.: Check out dog sled race and then go skiing for the rest of the day. Sunday: If Lake Superior is frozen we will go to the ice caves or ski on Madeline Island. Otherwise we will find somewhere else to ski. Drive home and stop for supper on the way. Those that want to make it back in time for the Superbowl Game will have to carpool with likeminded people. Estimated cost: $65 + gas + 3 meals Out. Deposit: $40. Max trip size: 18.

Thursday, January 31 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails at Elm Creek Regional Park. The trails at French Park are closed due to lack of good snow. So we are going to meet at Elm Creek instead, where they make their own! Meet in the brand new chalet at 7:00. Rentals are available. All ability levels welcome. Cost: $4 or buy an annual TRPD ski pass for $50 ($25 for additional people in your household).

From Maple Grove & South metro: Chalet & Recreation Area: (From I-94W) Exit at Maple Grove Parkway and turn right (north). Continue on Maple Grove Parkway to CR-81. Turn right (east) onto CR-81. Turn left onto Elm Creek Blvd; take second right out of roundabout into park and follow park signs.

From Osseo & East metro: Chalet & Recreation Area: Take County Road 81 northwest to Elm Creek Blvd. Turn right at Elm Creek Blvd; take second right out of roundabout into park and follow park signs.

Thursday, January 24 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails at French Regional Park. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the visitor center. Rentals are available. All ability levels welcome. Cost: $4 or buy an annual TRPD ski pass for $50 ($25 for additional people in your household). Possible socializing afterward.

Sunday, January 20 BEGINNER SERIES!
Downhill Skiing at Welch Village. This is for the Alpine skiers in the club who want to improve their ability on the slopes. First consideration will be given to the beginners in the club. I will adapt the series to the ability level of the participants. Please let me know if you are a never ever. Please let me know your goals. If anyone needs advanced instruction let me know. I will run a maximum of 2 groups of 6 each, for a maimum of 2 hours per group. Estimated cost: lift ticket (rental if necessary).

Friday – Monday, January 18 – 21 SORRY, THIS TRIP IS FULL, WAIT LIST OPEN
Cross-Country Ski, Snowshoe, etc. at Itasca State Park. Three days of skiing, snowshoeing, skating, hiking on the lake in a winter wonderland and fun evenings of games, walks on the lake, or just sitting by the fireplace with a good book at the Itasca State Park Hostel over MLK weekend. This is a popular annual Rover trip so hurry as this trip fills up quickly every year. The Hostel is ours for 31 persons. Includes 3 nights lodging, meals Saturday, Sunday, and Monday breakfast. Deposit $65. Estimated cost: $90 (+/-). Deposit: $65. Max trip size: 31.

Friday – Monday, January 18 – 21 SORRY, THIS TRIP IS FULL, WAIT LIST OPEN
X-Country Ski & Snowshoe. Rover Trip Revival! We have the rustic cabins at Tettegouche State Park for the nights of Friday, Sat, Sun - Jan 18-19-20, two cabins, a total of 12 people. Leave Friday Morning, return Monday evening. You can read about Tettegouche Camp (click on link, see page 2): It's really a cool place! Old wood cabins, propane heated to 40 degrees, wood stove to bring up temp to comfy level. Cook stove-but No running water—yet there is a heated shower/toilet building on the property. There is also a log building "lodge" used for common space/gathering. The hike in is a hilly one and one-half mile hike. Depending on snow conditions-you can ski in, snowshoe in, or hike. Many people bring a small sled to haul gear. Ski trails are not for beginners. The cabins are right on the ski trail. There is great x-country skiing up there-and/or great snowshoeing! My first priority will be for people who have never been there. Exceptions will be made for 1) two people who are willing to take care of menu planning and shopping and 2) two people who are willing to be cabin coordinators and 3) drivers. I anticipate the cost to be approximately $150, including transportation (carpooling). Deposit $60. I started by posting on e-group so, as of 10/8/07, I already have 6 men signed up for the trip and am starting a waiting list. I am still looking for 3 more women - ideally. Please indicate if you can sleep in a room with people who might snore. :-) Meet at REI - Roseville at 8 a.m., returning 6 p.m.. Estimated cost: $150, including transportation. Deposit: $60. Max trip size: 12.

Thursday, January 17 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails at French Regional Park. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the visitor center. Rentals are available. All ability levels welcome. Cost: $4 or buy an annual TRPD ski pass for $50 ($25 for additional people in your household). Possible socializing afterward.

Saturday, January 12 SOCIAL EVENT
A Night at the Xcel Energy Center. Catch the buzzzzzzz of the Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse team at the Xcel Energy Center in their home opener as they take on their bitter rivals, the Toronto Rock. We will purchase tickets at the ticket window the night of the game. Meet in the lobby in front of the ticket windows at 6:30 p.m. Game starts at 7 p.m. Estimated cost: $12 + parking + concessions.

Thursday, January 10 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails at French Regional Park. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the visitor center. Rentals are available. All ability levels welcome. Cost: $4 or buy an annual TRPD ski pass for $50 ($25 for additional people in your household). Possible socializing afterward.

Friday, January 4 NIGHT SKATE
Friday Night Ice Skating in Roseville. Lace up the skates, it's time for Friday night skating! We'll go to the John Rose Oval in Roseville, the world's largest outdoor ice-skating rink. This is a great, huge rink to skate on, and a great place for beginners to learn. They also usually have a bonfire for warming up. $5 admission, $4 skate rental We'll skate 8-10pm, then head to a nearby eaterie for eats/drinks. Contact me with questions or to let me know you plan to go. Estimated cost: $5 admission.

Thursday, January 3 NIGHT SKI
Cross-Country Ski Lighted Trails at French Regional Park. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the visitor center. Rentals are available. All ability levels welcome. Cost: $4 or buy an annual TRPD ski pass for $50 ($25 for additional people in your household). Possible socializing afterward.

Downhill Ski/Snowboard Afton Alps. Celebrate New Year's Day at Afton Alps. Meet at 11:00 am Tues 1/1/2008 in the Alps Chalet (main chalet, lower level) OR (for those who want to sleep later after your New Year's Eve festivities!), meet in the Highlands Chalet at 1 pm. Optional: Pack a lunch or bring money for snacks in the Chalet. Any questions, or if you'd like to carpool out there, email or call. Estimated cost: $37 lift ticket.